Man found not guilty of killing friend in Mandurah boat crash

A 27-year-old man has been found not guilty of killing his friend in a tragic, drunken boat crash in Mandurah.

Kyle James Hartigan has been on trial in the WA Supreme Court this week accused of unlawfully killing his 35-year-old friend Daniel Lloyd.

Both men were thrown from a boat when they hit a channel marker in the Mandurah estuary in the early hours of February 7, 2020.

Mr Lloyd suffered a fractured skull and died at the scene while Mr Hartigan was collected by a friend who was in another boat.

Daniel Lloyd suffered a fractured skull and died at the scene. PIC: WA Police

The West reports, Mr Hartigan denied he was driving the boat when it ploughed into the marker at speed, instead it was Mr Lloyd.

But the prosecution alleged Mr Hartigan was driving the boat.

The court heard both men had been drinking heavily before the crash.

On Friday, the jury found Mr Hartigan not guilty of manslaughter after deliberating for three hours.

More to come...